What is traditional shepherd's pie made of?
Traditionally, shepherd's pie is made with lamb mince, vegetables and mashed potato. The meat is added to an aromatic combination of softened carrot, onion and celery, known in French cooking as a mirepoix, which is then loosened up with stock, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste and bay leaves to make a tasty gravy. This mixture is then topped with mashed potato and baked to bubbling, golden perfection.
What is the difference between cottage pie and shepherd's pie?
Cottage pie is very similar to shepherd’s pie (they're both topped with creamy mashed potatoes) but with one main difference - cottage pie uses beef mince (ground beef) instead of lamb (ground lamb) as its meat mixture. You can swap the lamb for ground beef in this recipe should you wish, or try our cottage pie recipe that’s on the table in 45 minutes.
We use a beef stock (or beef broth) to make shepherd's pie with this recipe (to further flavour the meat mixture), but you can use a homemade beef broth if you're feeling ambitious or have some on hand.
What to eat with shepherd’s pie?
Shepherd’s pie is hearty and filling, so it balances well with vegetable sides like garlicky green beans, balsamic roasted brussel sprouts and minted peas with broccoli. Crusty bread or Irish soda bread also makes for a good side to mop up the delicious gravy. You can serve shepherd's pie as a whole meal (it's a great leftover lunch too), if you like, as it's full of everything you need to complete your meal - protein, carbs and vegies.
How can I thicken my shepherd's pie?
This shepherd's pie recipe uses 2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the gravy but if you feel like the meat mixture is too watery, add in another tablespoon and stir to combine. You may also try simmering the mince mixture for longer so that the stock reduces down and thickens. Finally, ensure that you have drained your potatoes well before mashing to avoid watery mashed potatoes.
Can I freeze shepherd’s pie?
Assemble your shepherd's pie filling and mashed potatoes in the baking dish or casserole dish, and allow to cool completely. Cover with cling film and freeze. The shepherd's pie will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you're ready to eat it, defrost it in the fridge overnight, and then follow recipe instructions for baking your shepherd's pie in the oven.
FAQs
Classic Shepherd's Pie is a comforting casserole that consists of ground lamb, carrots, and peas simmered with Guinness, Worcestershire sauce, and herbs and topped with a cheesy mashed potato layer that's baked until golden and crisp.
How do you keep shepherd's pie from falling apart? ›
How do you keep shepherds pie from falling apart? The eggs in the mashed potatoes help keep the pie together. You should also make sure to spread the potatoes and press down a bit.
What is a substitute for tomato paste in shepherd's pie? ›
How to Substitute Tomato Sauce or Puree for Tomato Paste. You don't have to dash out to the store if you're out of tomato paste; tomato sauce and tomato puree are both an excellent substitute. For every 1 tablespoon of tomato paste needed, use 3 tablespoons of tomato puree or sauce.
What can I use to thicken my shepherd's pie? ›
The easiest way to thicken shepherd's pie filling is by sprinkling a few tablespoons of flour into the ground beef mixture as it cooks before adding it to the baking dish. The starch in the flour will absorb the extra liquid and create a thick gravy.
Does shepherd's pie have gravy in it? ›
Talk about satisfying. Ground beef, vegetables, and gravy are baked under pillowy mashed potatoes. If it's not yet already, this will soon be a family favorite recipe.
Does shepherd's pie have cheese in it? ›
The Shepherd's Pie has saucy ground meat and vegetables covered in a a mashed potato crust, sprinkled with shredded cheese, and baked to bubbly perfection.
Why is my shepherd's pie sloppy? ›
Why is my shepherd's pie runny? Generally, this is caused by using too much stock.
Why is flour used in shepherds pie? ›
This shepherd's pie recipe uses 2 tablespoons of flour to thicken the gravy but if you feel like the meat mixture is too watery, add in another tablespoon and stir to combine. You may also try simmering the mince mixture for longer so that the stock reduces down and thickens.
Why does my potato sink in shepherds pie? ›
How do you keep potatoes from sinking in shepherd's pie? Let the beef layer cool before you top it with the mashed potatoes. This is the number one way to keep your potatoes from sinking. Another tip is to not make your potatoes too runny because firmer mashed potatoes stay more level while baking.
Can I use ketchup instead of tomato puree? ›
Ketchup has a tomato base, but also contains vinegar, sugar, and other spices. I would only use this when you have absolutely no other replacements to use, since ketchup has a pretty distinct flavor and may actually change the flavor profile of your dish drastically.
I don't love using tomato soup instead of tomato paste. It does have a similar flavor to tomato paste, but it's sweeter and contains significantly more liquid. That can cause your recipe to turn out runny. If it's your only option, go for it, but you'll need to reduce the other liquid ingredients in the recipe.
Why do people put ketchup on shepherds pie? ›
Some love the sweet tang it adds, while others think it clashes with the savory flavors.
What is shepherd's pie made of in England? ›
“Shepherd's pie” and “cottage pie” are used interchangeably, but technically traditional shepherd's pie is made with ground lamb and traditional cottage pie is made with ground beef.
What ingredients does shepherd's pie, a traditional Irish dish, contain? ›
I never shy away from the excuse to celebrate anything Irish. What's not to love about shepherd's pie? It's got ground beef, or lamb, with mushrooms, onion, corn, peas and carrots cooked in a delicious gravy sauce that's topped with a mashed potato crust that's baked in the oven.
What meat is in traditional pie and mash? ›
It consists of a minced-beef filling (historically, leftover scraps of meat and vegetables) baked in a pastry crust and served with mashed potatoes and a thin green parsley sauce called liquor (which actually contains no alcohol).
What is traditional cottage pie made of? ›
Cottage Pie – comfort food central! This English classic has a deeply savoury beef mince filling smothered in gravy topped with creamy mashed potato, baked until golden. One of the best cosy foods to make with ground beef!
